SWFL Solar Assistance Coalition

 The SWFL SEA Coalition is an initiative aimed at connecting solar power job opportunities and renewable home energy to underserved neighborhoods in South-West Florida. The project is in partnership with some of the leading community action agencies: Community Cooperative, Building Industry Association/Builders Care & Homes for Heroes and other local organizations, and will bring new green job opportunities and renewable home energy to communities that have challenges accessing both as well as providing energy and state of emergency energy for elderly, veterans and fixed income households. The initiative will also advance the transition to clean energy needed to meet societal, federal, state, and municipal climate objectives.

 This initiative is done in conjunction with our solar workforce development program headed up by the Solar Energy Institute at the Fort Myers Technical College and the Department of Energy’s “Solar Ready Vets” Program, which will support the first two cohorts of 12 students each through the solar training program and provide wraparound support services as well as job placement after graduating. 

Our solar battery backup systems can provide reliable backup power during a power outage. We use the latest technology to ensure that you have power when you need it most.

SWFL SEA Coalition will increase access to solar energy and solar job opportunities in several areas through our targeted strategy:

• Recruit, train, and support job placement in the solar industry through a solar technician training program for under and unemployed residents and veterans, creating pathways to solar industry careers and enhancing the workforce with diversity, equality and inclusion. 

• Reduce the utility bills of energy-burdened communities by expanding the      households who can lower electrical expenses, as well as provide back-up/stored-energy power during state of emergency to low-mid income households, elderly and veterans with the assistance of the IRA “Solar For All” funds in partnership with SELF. 

• Provide State of Emergency Power to those with medical conditions by adding      energy storage/battery back-up systems to households with medical devices      or temperature-controlled medications. 

“Programs like SWFL SEA Coalition empower our communities and residents to actively join this clean energy transition by creating pathways that offer accessible entry points into valuable careers and support our workforce needs. Additionally, we are bringing together amazing community organizations under a shared vision of creating an impact on our most vulnerable communities, who have disproportionately borne the brunt of climate change. It is essential for environmental, racial, and economic justice initiatives to work together” 

– Rick Vaske, Director of the Solar Energy Institute